Haulier speeds up border transit with own agents

Having their own agents at the main border posts helps reduce delays for Sabot trucks moving freight in and out of Zambia, says Godfrey Mwanza of Sabot Zambia. The Sabot staff provides support to the drivers and the clearing agents at the border. “Our investment in infrastructure in the southern Africa region is helping to reduce transit time,” he says. While the Durban-Zambia road remains the “golden route” for imports and exports, Sabot is seeing increasing use of Beira, Walvis Bay and Dar es Salaam. As a result the company started running into Walvis Bay in November 2014. “Having a network throughout southern Africa means we can offer shippers the most costeffective and efficient routes,” he says. Through a strategic business alliance with Cargo Carriers, Sabot has access to over 500 horses and 1200 trailers to meet most configuration needs of clients. It has a fleet of over 70 Zambian-registered trucks and 40 trucks registered in South Africa. The company has access to one of the most modern Volvo fullservice workshops in the region which is owned and operated by Meanwood in Harare, he said. It provides support to vehicles moving between South Africa and the Copperbelt. Due to Sabot’s presence in Zimbabwe, transit time through the country averages three days, according to Mwanza. Transit time through Zambia to and from the Democratic Republic of Congo is around two days, he said. Sabot employs the latest in GPS tracking technology for all transport vehicles to ensure up-to-date location information of all cargo. Additional technologies include on-board cameras which cover both the interior and exterior of the vehicles. It offers the option of an armed escort service for high-value loads. INSERT & CAPTION Transit time through Zambia to and from the Democratic Republic of Congo is around two days. – Godfrey Mwanza CAPTION Trucks waiting to be loaded mainly with copper and chemicals in Ndola. Many will be heading to Dar es Salaam.